CAG Wins GIS Day 2023 Award

The Center for Applied Geomatics (CAG) won the Esri India GIS Day Celebration 2023. The event was hosted by CAG's 'Community mapping expedition in Bhagwatinagar slum', Odhav, Ahmedabad, to showcase innovation and impact. CAG secured the 1st runner-up position in this contest. This event was jointly organised by Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) and co-supported by ISG - AC (Indian Society of Geomatics – Ahmedabad Chapter).

The event drew widespread participation, with 78 women from the slums actively engaging in surveys using GIS technology, along with support from students of CEPT University and members of the CEPT Research and Development Foundation and the National Innovation Foundation. The mapping expedition empowered participants with practical GIS skills and fostered a more inclusive approach to community mapping by combining traditional paper mapping with modern tools.

The collaborative effort strengthened community bonds, emphasising the importance of community engagement in the mapping process. This also highlighted issues such as open dumps, waste segregation, manhole conditions, streetlights, waterlogging, and tree locations in the Bhagwatinagar slum.

Esri India recognised the uniqueness, awareness created, and overall impact of CAG's efforts, selecting it as one of the winners. The win reflects CAG's commitment to leveraging GIS technology for community betterment.